Transfiguring Times – 10/02/25
The Rector’s Metamorpho-News Dearly transfigured people of God, What makes a church grow? There is no singular answer, no magic formula, no secret sauce that can apply to every congregation and cause spontaneous growth. Growing as a congregation requires introspection, prayerful discernment, and collective cooperation. Growing a congregation is also multi-dimensional. A congregation’s vitality, viability, and…
| The Rector’s Metamorpho-News |
| Dearly transfigured people of God, What makes a church grow? There is no singular answer, no magic formula, no secret sauce that can apply to every congregation and cause spontaneous growth. Growing as a congregation requires introspection, prayerful discernment, and collective cooperation. Growing a congregation is also multi-dimensional. A congregation’s vitality, viability, and ministry are not measured only by numerical growth. Growing in discipleship, growing in advocating for justice, growing in faith, and growing in spiritual maturity are also measures of a congregation’s growth. It is possible for a congregation to decline numerically and grow in these other areas. It is also possible for a congregation to grow numerically, but decline in these other areas. That all said, Jesus taught us to go and to make disciples of all nations and to grow the Church in all of these ways. It is healthy and faithful for a congregation to want to grow numerically, in discipleship, in the pursuit of justice, in faith, and in spiritual maturity. At the Church of the Transfiguration, this is one of my passions and is a call on my heart as Rector. What does it mean for us to be a growing church? Are we a growing church now? What will it take for us to become a growing church? Last Sunday, I preached about our call to be a church that reaches the people outside of our gates and who take the Gospel into the world. To illustrate the strengths of growing churches, I cited research published by the Review of Religious Research and conducted by three experts in the field. According to the researchers, among mainline Protestant congregations that are growing, 94% of their pastors believe that Jesus truly and bodily rose from the dead. Among lay members of growing congregations, 83% agreed that Jesus truly and bodily rose from the dead. The Resurrection and the hope in eternal life is at the heart of the Christian faith. In other areas of Christian faith and practice, growing congregations similarly expressed higher commitment and belief in God’s active role in our lives: 89.8% said that God can perform miracles in answer to prayer, 93.6% said that Jesus forgives them of their sins through his life, death, and resurrection, and 90.3% agreed that they have committed their lives to Christ. This is not to say that declining congregations were opposed to these Christian truths or that they lacked faith. On the contrary, declining congregations in the study also showed that clear majorities expressed the same. The difference was largely in the level of dedication expressed. Growing churches were more likely to “strongly agree” instead of “moderately agreeing.” However, there was at least one area where growing congregations and declining congregations greatly differed, about Evangelism. The researchers asked the surveyed congregations, both those growing and declining, about their mission and purpose. What is your congregation’s primary mission and purpose? Among growing congregations, the most common answer was “evangelism” at 29.3%. Together with the similar answer, “to share divine love,” 42.3% of members of growing congregations expressed that evangelism or sharing God’s love was their primary mission and purpose. What was the most common answer of declining congregations? The most common answer was “no answer” at 35%. Evangelism stood at 8.9% and sharing God’s love stood at 10.4% meaning that only 19.3% of members at declining congregations saw their primary mission/purpose as evangelism or sharing God’s love. That is a stark juxtaposition and, I believe, is the main characteristic that contributes to a congregation’s growth. When the most common answer to the question, “what is our congregation’s mission and purpose?” is “no answer,” we need to take that opportunity to reflect and prayerfully discern about our vocation as disciples of Jesus. I want to emphasize again that the purpose of this message is not to judge or undermine the faithfulness of congregations that have experienced decline. A congregation can decline numerically but live deeper into their faith and grow in service, in discipleship, and in faith. However, all congregations should also be open to discerning and clearly articulating their mission and purpose. When we do that, we are more likely to experience growth in all of those dimensions. At the Church of the Transfiguration, we have experienced decline as measured since 2011, but we have also experienced growth and renewal. From 2021 – 2023, the average Sunday attendance of the Church of the Transfiguration has grown by 19.5%. We are a people committed to the love of Christ and to sharing the good news. What is our mission and purpose? Let us all think and pray about that question and what is our answer. Blessings, Fr. Caleb |
| Fr. Caleb deeply values the connection with the members of our congregation and welcomes your input. Whether it’s through office or home visits, phone calls, or email, he is here for you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any needs, or concerns, or simply want to chat. |
| This Weekend |
| Sunday, October 5 Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost 8:00am (spoken service – Rite II) Please see the Order of Worship in the pews or click here 10:00am (choral service – Rite II) Please see the Order of Worship in the pews or click here YouTube link (for streaming the 10:00am service) OR Facebook link (for streaming the 10:00am service) Please join us after each service in the Fellowship Hall for coffee, fellowship and snacks. |
 Altar Guild Saturday, October 4 | 9:00am We are seeking dedicated individuals to join the Altar Guild. Members play a vital role in setting the altar table with holy sacraments and preparing the worship space. If you’re interested in serving in this meaningful ministry, please contact Barbara Press for more information at 847-651-1396 or barbarapress02@gmail.com |
 Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Saturday, October 4 | 10:30am Fellowship Hall All women who attend Transfiguration are included in ECW. The group meets the first Saturday of each month to plan their projects and activities with a potluck lunch following the meeting. For questions, contact Peg Wier. |
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 Food Collection Superstition Community Food Bank Collected Weekly Suggested donations for this week are: canned or dehydrated soups. For next week: canned meat and peanut butter. You can place your donations in the basket at the back of the church or in the bin in the Fellowship Hall. |
| The Week Ahead at Transfiguration |
| Tuesday, October 7 7:00pm Compline Wednesday, October 8 9:30am Morning Prayer 7:00pm Compline Thursday, October 9 10:00am Bible Study & Coffee Hour 11:45am Thursday Morning Eucharist 1:00pm Stitchery Ministry 7:00pm Compline Sunday, October 12 8:00am Sunday Service 10:00am Sunday Service Second Sunday Offering at both services 11:30am Indigenous Peoples’ Day |
 Indigenous Peoples’ Day Sunday, Oct. 12 | 11:30am Fellowship Hall After refreshments, we will enjoy table, board and card games. Everyone from both services is invited to celebrate with us. |
 ECW Brinton Elementary School Collection Donations due by Monday, October 13 Collection Boxes in Narthex and Fellowship Hall Mesa Schools, including our neighbor, Brinton Elementary, have been in full swing for a month now. The classrooms were all decorated and well supplied for opening day, but now the teachers’ supply closet needs restocking. Teachers often have to use their own funds for everyday supplies, and they are most grateful to our generous congregation for the help that we give them. The school provided a list of the supplies needed (copies in the Fellowship Hall and in the Narthex plus collection boxes). The list is quite extensive, but the staff will appreciate anything we can provide. Thank you for your generosity and if you have questions, please feel free to call Jane Stoneback at (480) 572-1901. |
 Book Club Friday, October 17 | 10:00am AZ time via Zoom October’s Book Club will discuss James by Percival Everett. The discussion leader will be Ellen Jackelen and the Goodreads rating is 4.46. Click here for the review. When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond. |
 Vacation Fr. Caleb will be on vacation and out of the office from October 19 – 25. |
 Jose’s Closet Collection Donations due by Friday, October 31 Collection Box in Narthex Daughter’s of the King is proud to support Jose’s Closet, an organization that provides resources for foster children and their families. We are collecting donations of:Hygiene products (soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, etc…full or travel sizes welcome)Diapers (newborn through size 5)Your generosity will make a meaningful difference! There will be a basket marked Jose’s Closet in the Narthex for all donations. |
 Trunk or Treat Friday, October 31 | 6:00pm – 8:00pm Church Parking Lot Please join us for our annual Trunk or Treat where we welcome our neighbors and their children for an evening of spooky fun, treats and delicious food! We will set-up and decorate at 5pm. Around 6pm the Tacos y Dogos Culiacán food truck will arrive, the children will visit our trunks for candy and the first 100 guests will enjoy our visiting food truck fare! |
 ECM Hosted BreakfastSunday, November 2 | after both services Fellowship Hall The Episcopal Church Men’s group will be serving a delicious breakfast after both services. More details to come! |
 Stewardship Campaign Month of November Stay tuned for more details about our 2025 Stewardship Campaign, Tell Out My Soul. |
 ECW Annual Rummage Sale Thursday, November 20 – Saturday, November 22 Fellowship Hall We are now accepting donations of all kinds except large furniture and appliances. There is a designated room for women’s clothing in the center of the Fellowship Hall with labeled containers to sort your donations into. Other donations go in the far west room of the Fellowship Hall. If you have questions about donations, please contact Jo Laslo. |
 Bill Robinson Recognition Saturday, November 22 | Time TBD Sanctuary The Rt. Rev. Jennifer A. Reddall will join us to officiate at a Celebration for Years of Service to recognize our very own Bill Robinson, iconographer and Chili Farm Director Emeritus, for his years of ministry at the Church of the Transfiguration. |
 25th Anniversary Celebration Date TBD, 2026 As we prepare to celebrate the 25th anniversary of our church sanctuary next year, we are creating a digital photo album to capture its history. We are especially looking for photos from the construction phase and any renovations or improvements since. If you have relevant photos or documents, please email them to Thomas Blum. Your contributions will help make this celebration truly special! |
| FYI |
 Birthday Blessings The following parishioners are celebrating birthdays this week: Laura Whayne on 10/1, Steve Laslo on 10/6. Please wish them a very happy birthday and keep them in your prayers! |
 Beware of Scam Emails The Church Office has received reports that some of our parishioners have received emails that claim they are from Fr. Caleb and he is asking for gift cards and/or money. Please know that Clergy, Staff or other parishioners would never send out emails asking for gift cards or money. If you receive a suspicious looking email, please check the email address that is is coming from – they are fake email accounts/addresses. |
| Worship & Formation |
 Prayer and Reflection Sundays | 7:30am and 9:30am Parish House Chapel As a Christian community, fellowship and prayer are among the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Please, observe quietude when entering and exiting the sanctuary for worship so that members may greet one another quietly and also pray and light candles. For those in need of and seeking silence for prayer and reflection, we are opening the Parish House Chapel before each service for prayer. Please observe silence when in the chapel so that this may be a space for those in need of silent prayer and contemplation. Compline Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays | 7:00pm AZ time via Zoom Compline/Evening Prayer is held via ZOOM. Meeting ID: 740-940-1419. Passcode: 514 514. Contact Barbara Press with questions at (847) 651-1396. Morning Prayer Wednesdays | 9:30am AZ time via Zoom Please join us via ZOOM to prayerfully start the day. Meeting ID: 740-940-1419. Passcode: 514 514. Contact Barbara Press at (847) 651-1396 for questions. Bible Study & Coffee Hour Thursdays | 10:00am Fellowship Hall Bible Study for October – November (The Epistles of Paul and Always Reforming): “What it Means to Be Protestant”. For more information and to order the book, click here. Morning Eucharist Thursdays | 11:45am Parish House Chapel Please join us in a small group setting as we celebrate Holy Eucharist. NOTE: There will be no Morning Eucharist on August 21. Prayer Requests Updated Weekly A list of those on our prayer list is posted in the Narthex. Prayers are offered up at Compline, by the Daughter’s of the King, and in the Sunday Services. Please contact the Church Office with your requests and updates. |
| Ministries |
 Altar Flowers Donations requested for weekly flowers Altar flowers can be dedicated in honor of special life events such as birthdays and anniversaries, in memory of a loved one or as a general thanksgiving. If you would like to donate altar flowers, please sign-up on the flower sheet posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex. Ruby Seyffert will then reach out to you regarding any special requests. NOTE: When using Zelle or a check, designate ‘Altar Flowers’ in the memo field. Altar Guild Saturday, October 4 | 9:00am Sacristy Altar Guild members care for the altar, vestments, vessels and linens under the direction of the Rector. They prepare the altar and worship space for services including weekend worship, weddings, funerals and baptisms. Contact Barbara Press to volunteer or to learn more. Episcopal Church Men (ECM) Tuesday, October 14 | 6:00pm Fellowship Hall After enjoying pizza, ECM will plan the November 2 breakfast and elect a new President/Leader, and a Historian/Note Taker. Anyone interested in leading this fine group of men or to be our historian, please contact John Collins at jartcol98@gmail.com or (480) 406-3121. Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Saturday, October 4 | 10:30am Fellowship Hall All women who attend Transfiguration are included in ECW. The group meets the first Saturday of each month to plan their projects and activities with a potluck lunch following the meeting. For questions, contact Peg Wier. Lord’s Soup Kitchen Tuesday, October 14 | 9:00am Fellowship Hall Kitchen In September this dedicated group made homemade Taco Soup which is available to pick up in the Fellowship Hall freezer. Their heartfelt efforts continue to make a positive difference in the community, one delicious bowl of soup at a time. Anyone wanting to volunteer for this ministry please call Miriam Waddington at 559-707-5810. Stitchery Ministry Thursday, October 9 | 1:00pm Parish House This group meets the second and fourth Thursday each month to knit, crochet, sew and quilt. In addition to giving to our own members in need, the ministry donates prayer shawls and other hand stitched items to hospitals, nursing homes, shelters and other charitable organizations. No previous experience required – the group can help you learn how to knit, crochet, etc. Contact Linda Jo Johnson if you have questions. Sunday Morning Ministry 8:00am and 10:00am services We are looking for committed individuals to serve in various roles during our Sunday services. Positions available include Acolytes, Chalice Bearers, Greeters, Readers, Offering Counters and Digital Ministry; we especially need help with the last two roles. These roles plays an essential part in our worship experience and help nurture the spiritual life of our community. Training and guidance will be provided to ensure you feel well-prepared and confident in your role. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the office at (480) 986-1145 or email officetransfig@gmail.com. |
| Giving |
 Second Sunday Offering Sunday, October 12 | 8:00am & 10:00am services October’s offering will go to Paz De Cristo which is a nonprofit organization that provides food, clothing and support to people struggling with hunger, poverty and homelessness in Maricopa County, AZ. Online Giving Pledging and financial gifts to the Church of The Transfiguration can be made using the following methods:For credit card or ACH gifts, you can use the QR code on the back of the weekly bulletin or this link: https://onrealm.org/EpiscopalChurchTransfiguration/GiveIf you prefer to use Zelle via your banking app, you can find the church via our email address: officetransfig@gmail.com Planned Giving Did you know that planned gifts are philanthropic gifts made in the present that are received at sone future date and that they may be designated for specific purposes? To learn more, please click here for an informational brochure or contact the Church Office. Financial Report Click here to see the Mid-Year Transfiguration financial report. Hard copies are also available in the Narthex and in the Fellowship Hall. If you have questions, please contact Heidi Kinney. |
| Around the Diocese |
 Hispanic Heritage Month: Celebrating 57 years By The Rev. Canon Susana Santibanez, Canon for Hispanic/Latino MinistryWe are celebrating 57 years of Hispanic Heritage Month. Since President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 named this celebration for a week, and in 1988, President Ronald Reagan for 30 days starting September 15 through October 15. It is very important to recall the time frame, because we also celebrate the Independence Day of five Latin-American countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Chile, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. READ MORE… |
 Diocesan Publication Please contact the church office if you would like to receive the Arizona Episcopalian, a free quarterly publication from the Diocese. To sign up for the weekly Diocesan email E-Pistleclick here. |
| Who We Are |
 The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration is an open and affirming Christian community in the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement. We acknowledge the living culture of the Salt River Pima and Maricopa people, the traditional custodians of the land we stand on, and pay tribute to the unique role they play in the life of this region. |
| Clergy and Staff Fr. John Caleb Collins, Rector Office (480) 986-1145 or Mobile (480) 980-1981 (call or text) Janice Scalzo, Office Administrator Daryl White, Sexton Polina Beymonov, Music Director Tami Root, Music Co-Director Office hours: M-T-W-Th. 9am – 1pm Leadership Fr. John Caleb Collins, Vestry Chair Wayne Smith, Senior Warden (480) 245-9310 Tom Kevern, Junior Warden Heidi Kinney, Treasurer Doug Wynn, Deputy Warden Diane Klock, Vestry Clerk Anita Joy, Vestry Member Bob Kistler, Vestry Member Garth Seiple, Vestry Member Jane Stoneback, Vestry Member Janet Krahn, Vestry Member Jo Laslo, Vestry Member Ruby Seyffert, Vestry Member Sharon Smorynski, Vestry Member Social Media Thomas Blum, Website Fr. John Caleb Collins, Facebook page Mary Hovden, Transfiguring Times (please send stories, announcements, photos, etc. to Mary here) Peg Wier, Joe Myshko, Digital ministry |